was braided, saddled, bridled and booted, all ready to go.“ Joe... you arc a life-saver. You even got the right boots on her.”“ I ain ' t all dumb, Mr. Lonny,” he said as ie handed Lonny the reins.
So far it had been a good evening for the Lonny
Barnes Stables. He had tied third in the filly class an reserve in the mare class and his gelding won the junior
class in good fashion. His juvenile rider had tied fouith and the pony, thank God, had tied the blue with a good performance. Mr. Rutledge had worried him to death trying to get him to change the boots on his son’ s pony before the class but Lonny held his ground, insisting that the pony could carry them and would do a lot better after he got warmed up. He did and he won!
It was almost 10:30 and Lonny was about shot. He was talking to Helen as they returned from the Walking Horse tack truck where he had just bought a new bridle and bit and some latex wrapping.“ Lonny,” she said,“ this horse can’ t help you. In fact all he will do is hurt you. You know all your customers will claim you are concentrating too much on one horse. And besides... if you should win it. everyone will say that Sutton Cobb made him and if you lose they’ ll all say you ruined a good horse.” He answered,“ I know... I know. But I just believe I can help him and get along with him. You know I ' ve always liked BEAU GENTRY.”
Ignoring the class in progress a crowd had gathered to see Lonny work the black horse. As he checked the reins to mount, Dr. Greely was busy giving him all kinds of tips.“ Don’ t take too much hold of him now, and don’ t push hint. Let him set his own head and you’ ll get along all right.” Lonny^ looked down from almost seventeen hands up and said,“ I hope you know what we’ re doing, Doc.” As Lonny gathered the reins and clucked to GEN TRY, he was amazed at the apparent stride of his horse. Each step with his back feet produced a jarring thud that he could feel all over. He thought to himself,“ Man oh man... what a horse.”
The crowd was staying for the stake class at this small hick-town horse show. There were eleven horses in the class and Lonny waited until every horse, had entered the ring before coming in on BEAU GENTRY. To a professional trainer there is nothing to parallel the feeling that you get when you enter the ring on a crowd favorite and you can feel the tension. There was a clamour, as some spectators had not heard that BEAU GENTRY was even on the showgrounds. As they worked the horses the right way ' of the ring Lonny knew he was not getting along too well. His horse, was a little bit out of time and just wouldn’ t settle down. He worked well enough, however. and as they called for the reverse he stopped to loosen the curb chain. He noticed that GENTRY was angry with the new bit he had in his mouth and got an idea. He pulled in on the grass and asked for a time-out. Dismounting he unlatched the bridle cheek strap and let it down one notch on both sides. Taking up the curb chain one ring, Lonny mounted and the announcer called“ Riders take the ring on your right.”
“ It worked,” he said to himself, as he could feel the difference already. With that, Lonny Barnes settled down to show his horse. There were obviously two or three professionals in there who wanted a piece of BEAU GEN TRY. As the announcer called for the running walk. Lonny felt a slight brush as another rider moved all too close to the inside, saying as he went by,“ You’ re about out of your class, aren’ t you, buddy?” Old GENTRY sensing a challenge, showed something that even Dr!
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Greely didn’ t know he had GENTRY didn’ t like to be nassed and without so much as a hint from Lonny he suddcnlv stepped forward with a burst of speed. Lonny feeline the ambitions of his mount, decided to let him go and, gathering his reins to give him. something to brace against, he called on BEAU GENTRY They passed the judge in front of the crowd in a great, headshaking runnine walk that amazed owner and rider alike. The crowd came to their feet as they hit the turn with Lonny riding like he had never ridden before.
The announcer had to ask that all spectators please stay off the track so that the winner of the class could make a pass as he went out. As Lonny hit full stride with BEAU GENTRY on the straightaway he could see Dr. Greely and Helen at the gate. They ' were obviously pleased, and Lonny thought to himself,“ We may just have a chance after all.”
Little Joe was cooling out BEAU GENTRY and it looked as if everyone had come over to sec the big black stallion. He was covered from head to tail with a cooler and didn’ t appear to be too concerned with all the fuss. Lonny was leaning against the truck talking to Dr. Greely when the judge of the show came up.“ Fellow, I don’ t know you except by reputation, but you gave that horse one helluva ride tonight.” Lonny smiled and extended his hand.“ Thanks. Coming from you that is a real compliment,” Lonny answered.“ Just one thing,” the judge added,“ What did you do to him when you asked for a time out?” Lonny smiled again.“ I’ ll never tell,” he said as he started loading up to go home.
f
FOR SALE
it 5 mares, all bred and some with colts by their side. jc Solid black mare by REX MERRY MAKER, foaled 1960. A good pleasure mare for children. Has sorrel filly by j side by SUN DUST and bred back to INVASION. » Season is paid.
J
★ Chestnut mare, near hind sock and strip. Foaled 1964. By MACK K and out of LAST CHANCE mare. Sorrel stud colt by side by GO BOY ' S SHADOW and bred back to INVASION. i
★ Blue roan mare by MIDNIGHT SUN. Foaled 1952. j This mare has black colts each year. She is in foal j to MERRY GO BOY. ★ Black mare by GO BOY ' S SHADOW. Foaled 1956. In foal to MIDNIGHT MACK K. j
★ Solid black three-year-old by MACK K. This mare will be bred for first time this year to INVASION. }
The following yearlings are fine looking show pros- j pects in every way. I would be proud to show these to j anyone at any time. They would have to be seen to do j them justice. j ★ Solid black stallion by MERRY GO BOY and out of the j
MIDNIGHT SUN mare listed above.
★ Dark chestnut filly by MIDNIGHT SUN and out of SHADOW mare listed above. She is loose and fine as can be. ★ Bay stallion by SUN ' S ROCKET GO BOY and out of a
SIR MAU GRAY mare. This colt could be just the one.
CONTACT MRS. BETTY CHAPMAN
la. Route 1
WILLIAMSTON, SOUTH CAROLINA Phone 803 / 847-7554 ]
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Hoist